I was at ZenCenter during January and February
of 1970. It was very meaningful for me to have lived in the community,
with Suzuki Roshi, at that time, as I had just begun sitting that October
‑‑ it gave me a strong base for practice.

I was glad to see that little notice in
the last Wind‑Bell. I've been carrying a couple of recollections of
Suzuki Roshi around for a while and was wondering what to do with them.
These stand out beyond everything else:

One sunny afternoon Roshi, Okusan,
Chino Sensei (I believe) and Yoshimura‑sensei were in the lobby, preparing
to go to Los Altos. It was Friday and there was a very light atmosphere.
Looking at their waiting car I had what I thought was a somber and unique
thought‑ "That's just a regular old car and these venerable people are
going to get in it and travel for miles on the freeway, completely open to
risk." Then, as they were moving toward it, saying goodbye, Yvonne, at the
top of the steps, called out through a grin to Roshi, "You be careful now;
we don't want to lose our treasure!" He turned, halfway down the steps,
and started to laugh; hands‑ SMACK!‑ and up‑"no more!" He threw his head
back and roared. His laughter was infectious (as well as relieving). He
seemed to have taken the fear, drawn it vividly into the open, and
disposed of it by the time he reached the sidewalk. He was still tickled
and laughing as they drove off.

One evening Roshi was in the living room,
talking and answering questions informally. He was sitting on the couch
with his legs folded. I watched as he took a sip from his teacup, and
then in one smooth motion, with arm and back almost as a single limb, he
leaned forward and placed that cup square on that thick carpet. I
really can't do it justice ‑‑ the movement was just so sure and so
simple. I left after a few more minutes.

Parts of two lectures also stand out.
They are, roughly paraphrased: (1) "You must chew well your brown rice.
Brown rice tastes not so good at first, but more you chew the better it
taste. White rice taste good at first but the long you you chew, it begin
to taste not so good . ."

(2) "In growing plants you must take care
of the soil. Don't worry about the plants, just feed and take care of the
soil and the plants will take care of themselves."